US20040099154A1 - Fluid distribution apparatus - Google Patents
Fluid distribution apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20040099154A1 US20040099154A1 US10/333,246 US33324603A US2004099154A1 US 20040099154 A1 US20040099154 A1 US 20040099154A1 US 33324603 A US33324603 A US 33324603A US 2004099154 A1 US2004099154 A1 US 2004099154A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- canister
- collection plate
- distribution apparatus
- autoclave
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
- A61L2/02—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena
- A61L2/04—Heat
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
- A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
- A23L3/10—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating materials in packages which are not progressively transported through the apparatus
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
- A61L2/02—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena
- A61L2/04—Heat
- A61L2/06—Hot gas
- A61L2/07—Steam
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to apparatus (1) for distributing fluid within an autoclave (2). The invention is suitable for use in applications in which the autoclave (2) is used to cook or sterilise food or beverages.
Description
- The present invention relates generally to apparatus for distributing steam or other fluid within an autoclave. The invention is suitable for use in applications in which the autoclave is used to cook or sterilise food or beverages, and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to that exemplary, non limiting application.
- Within the food processing industry it is known to use an autoclave for sterilising or cooking food products packed in any type of packing, for example cans pouches etc., using super heated steam or water under pressure. Autoclaves used in these applications include an upper fluid distributor extending across the entirety of the food to be processed, and a lower fluid collector extending across the base of the autoclave to collect and reuse the fluid in the autoclave.
- In order to ensure uniformity of cooking of the food, it is important that the fluid used to process the food be uniformly distributed across the upper surface of the food products into the autoclave and that the fluid uniformly gravitates through the food products in the autoclave. Existing fluid distribution apparatus for use in such applications have been found to inadequately meet these criteria.
- It would therefore be desirable to provide a fluid distribution apparatus which optimises the uniformity of the distribution and gravitation of the fluid used to process products within an autoclave.
- It would also be desirable to provide a fluid distribution apparatus which ameliorates or overcomes one or more disadvantages of known fluid distribution apparatus.
- With this in mind, one aspect of the present invention provides a fluid distribution apparatus comprising an autoclave including a fluid distributor and a fluid collection and a plurality of stacks of two or more fluid cascading canisters housed within said autoclave, wherein the top canister in each stack is in fluid communication with the fluid distributor, the bottom canister in each stack is in fluid communication with the fluid collector and adjacent canisters in each stack are in fluid communication with each other.
- Preferably, each canister includes a fluid collection plate for collecting fluid within that canister. A plurality of apertures may be provided in each fluid collection plate enabling the draining of the collected fluid into a lower adjacent canister.
- The fluid collection plate may be mounted within each canister, so that upon stacking of the canisters, the fluid collection plate is offset from horizontal to enable collected fluid to accumulate along a first side of the plate. The offset of the fluid collection plate may typically be from 1 to 45 degrees, and may preferably be 5 degrees.
- The apertures in the fluid collection plate may be dimensioned to have an increasing diameter with distance from the first side of the plate mainly to compensate the fluid level differences.
- The apertures may be formed within a plurality of fluid lines running in a first direction across the plate. The plate may include a plurality of fluid channels running in a second direction across said plate. Both measures for uniform distribution of the fluid within the canister.
- Another aspect of the present invention provides a fluid cascading canister for use in a fluid distribution apparatus comprising an autoclave including a fluid distributor and a fluid collector, said canister forming part of a first of a plurality of stacks of two or more canisters housed within the autoclave, wherein said canister is in fluid communication with an immediately adjacent canister in said first stack.
- A further aspect of the present invention comprises a fluid collection plate for use in a fluid cascading canister forming part of a fluid distribution apparatus comprising an autoclave including a fluid distributor and a fluid collector, said canister forming part of a first of a plurality of stacks of two or more canisters housed within the autoclave, wherein the canister is in fluid communication with an immediately adjacent canister in the first stack, said fluid collection plate acting to collect fluid from within said canister.
- Another further aspect of the present invention comprises a fluid cascading canister for use in a fluid distribution apparatus.
- In order to assist in arriving at an understanding of the present invention, one embodiment is illustrated in the attached drawings. However, it is to be understood that the following is illustrative only and should not be taken in any way as a restriction on the generality of the invention as described above.
- In the drawings:
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a prior art fluid distribution apparatus;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a stack of prior art food processing trays for use in conjunction with the fluid distribution apparatus of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a fluid distribution apparatus according to the present invention;
- FIG. 4 is a detailed view of four fluid cascading canisters used in the fluid distribution apparatus of FIG. 1; and
- FIGS.5 to 7 are respectively a plan view, a side view and a perspective view of a fluid collection plate for use in the fluid distribution apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4.
- Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown generally a fluid distribution apparatus1 comprising an
autoclave 2 and fluid recycling system 3. Theautoclave 2 includes a fluid distributor 4 for applying fluid to the food or other products within theautoclave 2. In this example, the fluid distributor 4 applies a shower of hot or cold water across the width of an upper portion of theautoclave 2, however in other examples steam or other fluids may be used to process the products within theautoclave 2. - The
autoclave 2 also includes afluid collector 5 for collecting the fluid from within theautoclave 2. This collected fluid is supplies by areturn line 6 to apump 7 and, in this example, a water heater (not shown). The heated water is returned to the fluid distributor 4 via afluid return line 8. - As shown in FIG. 2, in conventional fluid distribution apparatus, food products to be processed are typically placed within the
autoclave 2 in a stack oftrays 9 to 14. Thetop tray 9 is open on its upper side in order that heated water from the fluid distributor 4 is able to be applied to the food products in that tray. An aperture is formed in the base of each of thetrays 9 to 14 in order that the fluid in each tray is able to gravitate to a lower adjacent tray. The aperture in thelowermost tray 14 enables the heated water to be collected by thefluid collector 5. It can be appreciated that in such an arrangement, the disbursement of the hot water or other fluid in each of thetrays 9 to 14 can shift in an uncontrolled manner across the lower surface of each tray. Such varying liquid distribution results in a non-uniform gravitation of the fluid from one tray to the next within the stacks of trays illustrated in FIG. 2. Moreover, the food products located centrally within each tray receive a more direct application of the fluid than do those food products located at the periphery of the trays, further adding to the non-uniform processing of the food products within theautoclave 2. - These problems are addressed in the present invention by the provision of a plurality of stacks of two or more fluid cascading canisters housed within the autoclave. In the example shown in FIG. 3, stacks20 to 26 of 5 canisters each are housed within the
autoclave 2. The top canister in eachstack 20 to 26 is in fluid communication with the fluid distributor 4 such that hot water or other fluid from the fluid distributor 4 is applied to the food or other products within each topmost canister. Each of the adjacent canisters in eachstack 20 to 26 are in fluid communication with each other, whilst the bottom canister in eachstack 20 to 26 is in fluid communication with thefluid collector 5 to recover fluid for subsequent reuse. - The manner in which the fluid cascading canisters are arranged in the
autoclave 2 will be better appreciated from FIG. 4, which shows twocanister canisters autoclave 2.Fluid collection plates 34 to 37 are respectively mounted withincanisters 30 to 33. Eachfluid collection plate 34 to 37 is mounted within its respective canister so that, upon stacking of the canisters, the fluid collection plate is offset from the horizontal by an angle α. Angles of 1 to 45 degrees, and preferably 5 degrees, have been found to be suitable for use in many applications. - As shown in FIG. 6, such an offset enables fluid collected within the canister to be accumulated along a
first side 40, of the plate 34 (the left side as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6). Mounting brackets orwalls 41 to 44 may project respectively fromfluid collection plates 34 to 37 in order to enable the fluid collection plates to be mounted within the canisters, respectively 30 to 33. - Each fluid collection plate includes a plurality of apertures, referenced45 to 48 in FIG. 6, to enable the draining of the collected fluid into a lower adjacent canister within each stack.
- The apertures may be formed within a plurality of
fluid lines 49 to 52 running in a first direction across thefluid collection plate 34. The apertures may be dimensioned to have increasing diameter with distance from thefirst side 40 of theplate 34. Accordingly, the apertures in thefluid line 49 may have a smaller diameter than the apertures in thefluid line 50, and so on. In this way, uniformity of liquid flow from the apertures in the fluid collection plate to a lower adjacent canister is obtained. - The fluid collection plate may also include a plurality of
fluid channels - Separate baffles may also be provided within each of the
canisters example pouches 58 are stacked in between theseparation baffles - It will be appreciated that the present invention enables the uniform distribution and gravitation of fluid within the
autoclave 2 to be optimised and made more uniform in order that variations in product heating, cooling or other processing can be minimised. - Finally, it is to be understood that various modifications and/or additions may be made to the present invention described herein.
Claims (10)
1. Fluid distribution apparatus (1) comprising an autoclave (2) including a fluid distributor (4) and a fluid collector (5) and a plurality of stacks (20-26) of two or more fluid cascading canisters (30, 31, 32, 33) housed within said autoclave (2), wherein the top canister in each stack (20-26) is in fluid communication with the fluid distributor (4), the bottom canister in each stack (20-26) is in fluid communication with the fluid collector (5) and adjacent canisters in each stack (20-26) are in fluid communication with each other.
2. Fluid distribution apparatus (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that each canister (30, 31, 32, 33) includes a fluid collection plate (34, 35, 36, 37) for collecting fluid within said canister (30, 31, 32, 33), said fluid collection plate (34, 35, 36, 37) being provided with a plurality of apertures (45, 46, 47, 48).
3. Fluid distribution apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said fluid collection plate (34, 35, 36, 37) is mounted in a canister (30, 31, 32, 33) so that upon stacking of said canisters (30, 31, 32, 33), said fluid collection plate (34, 35, 36, 37) is offset from horizontal to enable collected fluid to accumulate along a first side (40) of said fluid collection plate.
4. Fluid distribution apparatus (1) according to claim 3 , characterized in that the offset of said fluid collection plate (34, 35, 36, 37) is in between 1 to 45 degrees, preferably 5 degrees.
5. Fluid distribution apparatus (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4 , characterized in that said apertures (45, 46, 47, 48) in said fluid collection plate (34, 35, 36, 37) having an increasing diameter with distance from the first side (40) of said fluid collection plate.
6. Fluid distribution apparatus (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5 , characterized in that said apertures (45, 46, 47, 48) are formed within a plurality of fluid lines (49, 50, 51, 52) running in a first direction across said fluid collection plate.
7. Fluid distribution apparatus according (1) to one of claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that said fluid collection plate includes a plurality of fluid channels (53, 54) running in a second direction across said fluid collection plate
8. Fluid cascading canister (30, 31, 32, 33), especially for use in a fluid distribution apparatus (1) comprising an autoclave (2) including a fluid distributor (4) and a fluid collector (5) according to one of claims 1 to 7 , said canister (30, 31, 32, 33) forming part of a first of a plurality of stacks (20-26) of two or more canisters housed within the autoclave (2), wherein said canister (30, 31, 32, 33) is in fluid communication with an immediately adjacent canister in said first stack.
9. Fluid collection plate (34, 35, 36, 37), especially for use in a fluid cascading canister (30, 31, 32, 33) forming a part of a fluid distribution apparatus (1), comprising an autoclave (2) including a fluid distributor (4) and a fluid collector (5) according to one of claims 1 to 7 , said canister (30, 31, 32, 33) forming part of a first of a plurality of stacks (20-26) of two or more canisters housed within the autoclave (2) wherein said canister (30, 31, 32, 33) is in fluid communication with an immediately adjacent canister in the first stack, said fluid collection plate acting to collect fluid from within said canister (30, 31, 32, 33).
10. Fluid cascading canister for use in a fluid distribution apparatus according to claims 1 to 7 .
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPQ8887 | 2000-07-20 | ||
AUPQ8887A AUPQ888700A0 (en) | 2000-07-20 | 2000-07-20 | Fluid distribution apparatus |
PCT/EP2001/008385 WO2002007542A2 (en) | 2000-07-20 | 2001-07-20 | Fluid distribution apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20040099154A1 true US20040099154A1 (en) | 2004-05-27 |
Family
ID=3822950
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/333,246 Abandoned US20040099154A1 (en) | 2000-07-20 | 2001-07-20 | Fluid distribution apparatus |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20040099154A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1301093A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004504084A (en) |
AU (1) | AUPQ888700A0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002007542A2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11027108B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2021-06-08 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | Fluid transfer assembly with a junction having multiple fluid pathways |
US11319201B2 (en) | 2019-07-23 | 2022-05-03 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | System for simultaneous filling of multiple containers |
US11577953B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2023-02-14 | Sartorius Stedim North America, Inc. | System for simultaneous distribution of fluid to multiple vessels and method of using the same |
US11584571B2 (en) | 2011-06-22 | 2023-02-21 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | Vessel closures and methods for using and manufacturing same |
US11691866B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2023-07-04 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | System for simultaneous distribution of fluid to multiple vessels and method of using the same |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US866870A (en) * | 1907-08-20 | 1907-09-24 | Charles H Loew | Pasteurizer. |
US1186944A (en) * | 1913-04-23 | 1916-06-13 | Rice & Adams | Pasteurizing apparatus. |
US4092111A (en) * | 1974-10-24 | 1978-05-30 | F. Hanau S. A. | Apparatus for the heat treatment of products contained in sealed containers |
US4169408A (en) * | 1977-02-10 | 1979-10-02 | Fmc Corporation | Continuous pressure cooker and cooler with controlled liquid flow |
US4732187A (en) * | 1984-10-24 | 1988-03-22 | Moench Harry | Device for disinfecting medical instruments |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH209628A (en) * | 1938-04-04 | 1940-04-30 | G Pepin Fils Aine Et Societe D | Installation for the treatment of liquids contained in bottles or other containers. |
DE2240839A1 (en) * | 1972-08-19 | 1974-03-07 | Erich Ritzler Kg | Pasteurising bottled liquid eg beverage - with reduction or elimination of bottle fracture on cooling |
FR2288481A1 (en) * | 1974-10-24 | 1976-05-21 | Hanau Sa F | NEW METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE HEAT TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS CONTAINED IN WATERTIGHT CONTAINERS |
US4179986A (en) * | 1976-12-16 | 1979-12-25 | Fmc Corporation | Low liquid volume retort system |
JP2688860B2 (en) * | 1990-07-20 | 1997-12-10 | ハウス食品株式会社 | Retort sterilizer |
JPH07184615A (en) * | 1993-12-28 | 1995-07-25 | Kamigaki Tekkosho:Kk | Retort sterilization and device therefor |
-
2000
- 2000-07-20 AU AUPQ8887A patent/AUPQ888700A0/en not_active Abandoned
-
2001
- 2001-07-20 JP JP2002513295A patent/JP2004504084A/en active Pending
- 2001-07-20 EP EP01957992A patent/EP1301093A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-07-20 US US10/333,246 patent/US20040099154A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-07-20 WO PCT/EP2001/008385 patent/WO2002007542A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US866870A (en) * | 1907-08-20 | 1907-09-24 | Charles H Loew | Pasteurizer. |
US1186944A (en) * | 1913-04-23 | 1916-06-13 | Rice & Adams | Pasteurizing apparatus. |
US4092111A (en) * | 1974-10-24 | 1978-05-30 | F. Hanau S. A. | Apparatus for the heat treatment of products contained in sealed containers |
US4169408A (en) * | 1977-02-10 | 1979-10-02 | Fmc Corporation | Continuous pressure cooker and cooler with controlled liquid flow |
US4732187A (en) * | 1984-10-24 | 1988-03-22 | Moench Harry | Device for disinfecting medical instruments |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11584571B2 (en) | 2011-06-22 | 2023-02-21 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | Vessel closures and methods for using and manufacturing same |
US11027108B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2021-06-08 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | Fluid transfer assembly with a junction having multiple fluid pathways |
US11577953B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2023-02-14 | Sartorius Stedim North America, Inc. | System for simultaneous distribution of fluid to multiple vessels and method of using the same |
US11623856B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2023-04-11 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | System for simultaneous distribution of fluid to multiple vessels and method of using the same |
US11691866B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2023-07-04 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | System for simultaneous distribution of fluid to multiple vessels and method of using the same |
US11319201B2 (en) | 2019-07-23 | 2022-05-03 | Sartorius Stedim North America Inc. | System for simultaneous filling of multiple containers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1301093A2 (en) | 2003-04-16 |
AUPQ888700A0 (en) | 2000-08-10 |
WO2002007542A3 (en) | 2002-06-27 |
JP2004504084A (en) | 2004-02-12 |
WO2002007542A2 (en) | 2002-01-31 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HENSEN PACKAGING CONCEPT GMBH, GERMANY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RASCHLE, PETER;REEL/FRAME:014343/0205 Effective date: 20030617 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FRESENIUS KABI DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, GERMANY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HENSEN PACKAGING CONCEPT GMBH;REEL/FRAME:016841/0292 Effective date: 20050831 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |